15+ Best Streaming Services in 2020 - Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+ & More!
Last updated May 3, 2022
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The social-distancing aspect of the COVID-19 outbreak can be hard to manage, especially if you decide to remain in your home at all times. Lucky for us, we can rely on the Internet not only to work from home - but to stay entertained as well. As could have been expected, media streaming is on the rise again thanks to numerous popular streaming platforms. Among those, we have four platforms that truly deserve your attention. Together, they bring thousands of hours of entertainment, keeping you occupied and stress-free during these stressful times. With this said, we’ll be talking about the best movies to watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney+. Trust us, as we have plenty of fantastic suggestions, hand-picked just for you!
Before diving deeper, we have a helpful piece of advice. In case you didn’t know, media streaming services come with regional libraries. Depending on your location, you might not be able to explore your favorite platform up to its full extent. This is where VPN applications come into play, as these can “change” your location by giving you a new virtual IP address. Make sure to learn more about how VPNs work, and then check out the best VPNs for streaming. That’s how you can unlock thousands of new Netflix titles, for example.
And also, there’s one more thing you need to know. We previously wrote about watching Movies with friends online - by organizing all-digital and long-distance movie nights. You can find tools online that allow you to watch movies with your friends without being in the same room together. So, make sure to use the provided links to learn more, and then keep on reading to find the best movies to watch right now.
As always, Netflix is your best bet when it comes to media streaming. Just like every month, there are plenty of new Netflix titles as well as titles poised to leave Netflix in April 2020. So, let’s check out the best movies to watch via this platform right now.
Without any doubt, Marriage Story is one of the most intriguing movies you can watch on Netflix right now. This is a Netflix original title, following the story of a married couple going through a coast-to-coast divorce. Played by Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, the couple goes through a lengthy process of divorce, involving their son as well. Throughout the movie, they try to learn about their new roles in each other's lives, setting up the foundation for their future relationship and dealing with the fallout of their decisions. Marriage Story isn’t the easiest movie to watch, but it's well worth your time.
Marriage Story received six Oscar nominations in categories such as Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress. The movie also received six nominations at this year’s Golden Globe Awards. It’s clear that in case you have a Netflix subscription, this is one of those must-watch movies, showing the real power of this media streaming service.
The Irishman is Martin Scorsese’s latest film, telling the story of Frank Sheeran and his involvement with the Bufalino crime family. Considering that it comes from Scorsese, you already know that this is a gritty crime movie, not afraid to dive into the dark world of organized crime. This was also one of the most complex movies to produce, as per Scorsese’s words, and it turned out to the most expensive and longest film of his career.
Ultimately, Scorsese’s work paid off in a big way. The Irishman received number accolades, including ten nominations at this year’s Academy Awards, five nominations at the 77th Golden Globe Awards, and plenty more. And also, this was one of the most popular original Netflix titles in 2019, used to show that media streaming services are not merely content delivery systems - they can be highly successful movie studios as well.
One of the best children books of all time is none other than The Little Prince, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Written in a children-friendly tone, this is a story of imagination - featuring plenty of fantastical and unrealistic elements. Unsurprisingly, The Little Prince continues to be a strong influence, with many moviemakers using the pillars of that story to create new kinds of experiences. This is precisely the reason why The Little Prince is one of the best movies to watch on Netflix right now - if you have children that need quality entertainment, that is.
Produced by Netflix, The Little Prince is an animated movie strongly influenced by the book. It tells the story of the challenges behind being a kid in a ground-up world, which is perfectly aligned with the source material. The critics loved The Little Prince, praising its complex narrative, moving story, and highly polished visuals.
Don’t worry; there are plenty of noteworthy movies to watch on Netflix. We’ll point you in the right direction by listing some of the most exciting films available right now. So, check out the following table.
Next, let’s check out some of the best movies available on Amazon Prime Video. Considering the massive size of its library, it’s going to be hard to limit the number of our picks - but we’ll do our best to recommend something for everyone.
If you’re into comedy, you probably already know about Mindy Kaling. She’s best known for her role in The Office, and there’s The Mindy Project as well. Aside from being an actress in those TV shows, Kaling also served as a writer - and her latest creation is available on Prime Video. Called Late Night, this is a lighthearted movie about a popular TV host struggling to meet everything that’s expected from her professionally, while navigating many obstacles in her day-to-day life. Plenty of hilarious situations await, with Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson playing their roles masterfully.
If we take a look at IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, we’ll see that both of these websites are favorable towards Late Night. The critics are saying that this is a “workplace comedy with a lot of heart - and just as many laughs.” This is also why we believe Late Night to be one of the best movies to watch on Amazon Prime Video. And also, keep in mind that this is an exclusive title available on Prime Video only.
On the outside, Brittany Runs a Marathon might look like a simple movie. It revolves around a hard-partying woman who receives a wake-up call and decides to do something about her life. What starts as a simple step towards a healthier life soon leads to the ultimate goal of participating in the New York City Marathon. On the inside, this a story of emotional wounds - which is something that many of us can understand too well.
Just like any good comedy, Brittany Runs, a Marathon, explores a problematic situation through numerous smart comedic elements. This is also a drama as well as a romantic movie, which tells a lot about its underlying complexity. And finally, you’ll end up with a positive message inspiring you to change some things in your life as well.
Our previous two recommendations are lighthearted movies, perfect for any movie night. However, let’s not forget about the real power of movies - to shed much-need light on complex and often misunderstood events. That’s precisely what The Report is doing, as this is a movie about the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program created in the aftermath of 9/11. The movie is following Daniel J. Jones, who is tasked by his boss Senator Dianne Feinstein to lead an investigation of the CIA’s infamous program.
What makes this movie interesting is the fact that it’s based on real-life events. The Report isn’t trying to simplify those events, and it’s delivering a much-needed point in a striking manner. Therefore, we strongly recommend you watch this movie, especially if you’re after something thought-provoking.
Let’s not stop exploring Amazon’s vast library of media. We’ve taken a close look at Prime Video, including which movies are trending right now, and we have some recommendations.
During the last year, Hulu has done plenty and offered attractive movies via its on-demand library. We’re talking about a combination of original and third-party content. After taking a deep look at Hulu’s movies on offer right now, we’re ready to make some recommendations.
The Coronavirus outbreak has forced many movies to end their theatrical run sooner than expected. One of those movies is Big Time Adolescence, which is one of the latest additions to Hulu's movie catalog. This is a Hulu exclusive, which means that this streaming platform has the exclusive rights to stream the film. This is undoubtedly a good decision, as it shows that Hulu is dedicated to bringing fresh and intriguing movies, increasing the value of its subscription.
Big Time Adolescence is a coming-of-age story focused on Mo, player by Griffin Gluck. It also features SNL regular Pete Davidson, who has received numerous praises for his performance in this movie. Big Time Adolescence is for younger audiences, especially those still looking for their place in this world. We highly recommend it, as this is a multi-dimensional story about navigating the hurdles of being a young adult.
Produced by Dwayne Johnson, this charming comedy is all about the world of professional wrestling. It focuses on Paige and her brother Zak, who receive an opportunity to try out for the WWE. Not willing to miss this opportunity, they embark on a journey that takes them away from their family - and pushes them into an entirely new world. This is a biopic, giving us a glimpse of how the WWE functions and what it means for individuals who decide to go this route.
Fighting With My Family is a story that combines many seemingly unrelated genres. At its core, this is a sports comedy-drama, but it also doesn’t hesitate to raise the questions of family values, sacrifices we’re willing to take in our professional and personal lives, and plenty more. Of course, it works best if you’re invested in the WWE world, giving you a “behind the scenes” look.
Based on the novel of the same name, A Simple Favor is a black comedy-thriller film. You’ll be taken to the world of Stephanie, a vlogger, and her best friend Emily, who goes missing. While trying to investigate the disappearance of her best friend, Stephanie finds numerous surprises along the way. And yes - we’re aware that this synopsis paints a pretty generic picture. However, A Simple Favor is genuinely an enjoyable movie, very suspenseful at times, but also very hilarious and thrilling.
A Simple Favor isn’t trying to change the world of cinematography, and it’s not trying to raise any eye-opening questions. Instead, this movie is letting its hair down, and it tries to be fun and enjoyable (while still delivering a quality story). This makes A Simple Favor the perfect choice for your movie night.
Hulu doesn’t have the biggest media library out there. However, you should always go for quality over quantity. Here are some additional movies available on Hulu that are worth your time.
Don’t worry; we didn’t forget about the most exciting media streaming platform available right now. Disney+ has recently launched in select countries, and now it’s slowly expanding to new markets. So, let’s check out which movies on Disney+ you should watch first.
As its name says, Endgame is the final movie in a long series of Marvel-made films. It could be said that it marked an end to an era of thrilling and action-packed stories. So, if you’re into superheroes, this is a must-watch. However, in case you haven’t been following Marvel’s superheroes during the last decade, we strongly recommend checking out all of those movies before watching Avengers: Endgame.
And also, we know what many of you are thinking that this is just another superhero movie bringing senseless fun. However, trust us on this, you couldn’t be more wrong. Avengers: Endgame is a thrilling finale of an incredibly complex story, filled with both human-like and supernatural elements. It’s a culmination of Marvel’s philosophy, which ultimately made Avengers: Endgame the biggest movie of all time.
Once they grow up, today’s kids are going to associate Disney with computer-animated movies, which isn’t a bad thing. Trends change over time, and therefore - cartoons change as well, and Moana is perhaps the best example of that. This animated movie shows an entirely new side of Disney, being willing to use the latest 3D technologies in creating something enjoyable for kids and adults alike. This is a heartwarming story, filled with plenty of twists and turns, catchy music, and a strong message to send.
Moana is about a girl of a Polynesian village’s chief, who gets chosen to reunite a mystical relic with the goddess Te Fiti. Moana’s voyage takes her through a series of adventures while trying to find Maui, a legendary demigod, in an effort to save her people. So, considering that it comes from Disney, you already know that Moana is a 100% children-friendly movie with an interesting and capitating story.
One of the most prominent strategies of Disney+ is to offer remakes, retelling Disney’s famous stories in a modern way. This strategy began with Lady and the Tramp, which was the first exclusive on Disney+ without having a theatrical run. As you can already guess, there’s nothing new about this story, as this is the latest remake of the 1955 animated classic. However, we’re not talking about an animated movie here - as this is a live-action remake.
If you can’t remember this classic story, allow us to remind you. You'll be following Lady, an upper-class American cocker spaniel who meets Tramp, a stray schnauzer. The two embark on an adventure filled with hilarious situations and romantic elements. Even though the critics weren’t always favorable towards this movie, we think your children are going to love watching it!
There are so many incredible movies available on Disney+, making it very hard to create a list of the best picks. However, we did our best to bring a list of diverse movies for different types of audiences. Check out some additional Disney+ movies below.
Dear readers, this is where we end our article on the best movies to watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney Plus. If you have anything to add or ask, make sure to use the comments section, found below. And of course, enjoy your movie nights!